Title:HIV-1 TAT and IMMUNE DYSREGULATION in AIDS PATHOGENESIS: a THERAPEUTIC TARGET
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Author(s): Chiara Chiozzini and Elena Toschi
Affiliation:
Keywords:
AIDS pathogenesis, immune dysregulation, HIV-1, Tat; therapy, vaccine.
Abstract: The HIV-1 transactivator Tat protein plays a key role in AIDS pathogenesis. Besides the
Tat role as activator of HIV-1 transcription, it exerts several important functions on infected and uninfected
cells. In fact, HIV-1 Tat is released by infected cells and is taken up by neighboring cells. In this
way it regulates expression of viral and cellular genes and it modulates several cellular pathways leading
to HIV-1 infection spreading and immune dysregulation. So far, Tat protein and the cellular pathways
targeted by Tat may represent potential targets for new anti-HIV therapeutic approaches and
vaccine development against AIDS.